JotCast | PHR Live Chat: 6/26/25

PHR Live Chat: 6/26/25

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Khris-Habs Fan

2:42

Are there any prospects in this draft that you expect to fall far (besides Ryabkin as most believe) or any that might get picked really early?

Josh Erickson

2:45

Brady Martin could go as high as No. 4 to Utah. That's too high for him in my book, but I've warmed up to him as a top-10 pick, especially with how relatively weak this class gets after the top few players. Hagens could fall but I really don't think he gets past the 7-8 range. Jake O'Brien could go higher in the top 10 than most think as well. Roger McQueen could be a big faller... at least he would be if I was in charge. Wonder if someone like Victor Eklund slips out of the top 10 too.

Kete

2:45

Do the penguins complete a Karlsson or Rust trade?

Josh Erickson

2:46

The Penguins aren't moving either for pennies. I think they're more likely to get their desired return for Rust than for Karlsson. With them looking to reduce Letang's deployment and them having a pretty thin defense as it is, I don't see why they'd be in a huge rush to move EK65 now compared to next offseason, when he'll be easier to move with only one year left on his contract.

Antoine

2:46

How much do you think McTavish's next contract will be? Big fan of him. I would like to see him in Montreal with Demidov!

Josh Erickson

2:47

Me as well – I thought that was a pretty bad pick at the time, I'll eat crow. If the Ducks want to lock him up longer-term, I think something like a 6x6.75 deal does the trick.

Free Agency GM

2:48

There are a few free agents that nobody is really talking about like Gus Nyquist, Robbi Fabbri, Nico Sturm, Luke Kunin, Jan Rutta, Jack Roslovic, and Jeff Petry. Where do you see these guys going?

Josh Erickson

2:50

The only ones I had ranked in my personal top 50 (our sitewide top 50 piece will come out tomorrow morning), were Roslovic and Nyquist. If he doesn't stay in Carolina, I wouldn't be surprised to see Roslovic return to Columbus as a nice middle-six piece. Nyquist seems like a candidate to take a cheap deal and chase a Cup with a team like the Lightning, much like their Atkinson pickup last summer.

DStars

2:51

Is there any update on the Stars head coach search?

Josh Erickson

2:52

Yeah, looks like the finalists there are Neil Graham and Glen Gulutzan: https://x.com/DarrenDreger/status/1938243469455077847

Ryan Lindgren

2:52

Should I go to DC to play with my brother?

Josh Erickson

2:53

I can't imagine the Capitals having any interest. Their left side is set for the foreseeable future with Jakob Chychrun, Martin Fehérváry, and Rasmus Sandin. Lindgren isn't an upgrade on any of those options.

Matt

2:54

Do the Ducks make anymore trades other than potentially Gibson? Any young D on the trading block?

Josh Erickson

2:54

Anyone is available for the right price, of course, but I don't get the sense they're shopping anyone.

Ducks

2:54

Seems like there was some talk not too long ago that Troy Terry was tossed around in trade talk. Any truth to that and why did it suddenly go away?

Josh Erickson

2:55

It came from one source – Andy Strickland – who walked it back within an hour or so. He's not being shopped.

Brian

2:56

Are the Kraken working on a big-splash deal?

Josh Erickson

2:56

Doubtful. I haven't seen them legitimately connected to anyone outside of added middle-six wing depth.

Shane

2:56

Who do you think the Rangers target now that Peterka is off the board? Signing Cuylle should be our top priority. Been hearing Gavrikov and Voronkov as potential targets.

Josh Erickson

2:58

Agreed on Cuylle as item No. 1. They've got probably a 50/50 shot at Gavrikov; like I said earlier, I'm led to believe by everything reputable I've seen that it's either New York or L.A. for him. I have not seen anything indicating that Columbus has made Dmitri Voronkov available, so I'd pump the brakes on that.

Teeman

2:59

Thoughts on the Gaudreau deal? Thx

Josh Erickson

2:59

Frees up added cost and roster space for the Wild to upgrade their forward group. He's an awesome fourth-line upgrade for the Kraken. Win-win.

3:00

Alright folks, that's the top of the hour here. So many awesome questions today, thanks as always for the participation!

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